MONTVALE, N.J.—It was intense and challenging — in the best possible ways.
On Friday, June 6, Fieldstone Middle School held its biennial Respect, Reflect & Remember Day — also known as 3R’s Day — offering students in grades 5–8 a powerful day of character education. The program featured 16 inspirational speakers whose life stories, marked by adversity and resilience, left a lasting mark on the school community.
Students heard firsthand accounts from war correspondents, 9/11 survivors, school shooting survivors, philanthropists, and others who have faced extraordinary hardship with courage, empathy, and resolve. The presentations explored themes of unity, compassion, perseverance, gratitude, and personal growth.
“This day brings us together as a community bound by the shared value of empowering our students to become exemplary citizens and positive role models,” Principal Mike Lauricella said in his welcome remarks.
Two keynote speakers bookended the day’s programming with memorable messages:
- Jim Stroker, the morning keynote, encouraged students to reconnect with their personal values and inner mission. His talk emphasized how our responses to life’s challenges shape the outcomes we create.
- Darryl Bellamy, the afternoon keynote, shared his “Fearless Inside” movement, which promotes belonging, confidence, and connection. “Fear is scary,” he said, “but it shouldn’t be feared — it should be embraced.”
We attended three of the day’s presentations, each offering a different lens on hardship and healing:
- Haider Newmani – Iraqi Journalist Newmani offered a rare, firsthand perspective on life under Saddam Hussein, through the Iran-Iraq War, the Gulf War, and the U.S. invasion. As a journalist, he risked everything to report the truth, embedding with both U.S. and insurgent forces, enduring arrests and injuries. The Fulbright scholar’s talk was a powerful reminder of journalism’s role in humanizing conflict and bridging divides.
- Carli Bushoven – Mental Health Advocate (Sister of Madison Holleran). In “Destructive Perfectionism” Bushoven spoke movingly about the death of her younger sister, Madison, of Allendale — a University of Pennsylvania student-athlete who died by suicide in 2014. Bushoven described the pain of that loss and the shift it caused in her understanding of mental health. Her appeal: Don’t assume you know what someone else is going through. Speak up. Ask for help. Support one another.
- Jacy Good and Steve Johnson – “It Can Wait” Jacy and Steve met in college and were planning their future together when tragedy struck. Jacy was in a devastating car crash caused by a distracted driver. Her parents were killed, and she was left with a traumatic brain injury. Steve stayed by her side through her recovery. Together, they advocate against distracted driving. Their campaign, It Can Wait, has gone viral and saved lives. Their message is simple: your choices matter. (See more at hangupanddrive.com)
The full list of speakers:
- Darryl Bellamy Jr. — FearLESS Inside
- Carli Bushoven — Destructive Perfectionism
- Manual Chea — 9/11 Survivor
- Jaclyn Corin — March For Our Lives
- Daryl Davis — Klan-Destine Relations
- Danielle DeZao — Overcoming Dating Violence
- Zak Ebrahim — The Terrorist’s Son
- Max Glanz — My Last Nerve
- Ron Gold — Lean on We
- Jacy Good and Steve Johnson — Texting & Driving
- Jenn Hensel — Sandy Hook
- Arno Michaelis — My Life After Hate
- Kaila Mullady — The Power of a Voice
- Haider Newmani — Iraqi Journalist
- Courtney Roselle — Iron Grace
- Sandy Rubenstein — Child of Holocaust Survivor
- Jim Stroker — Become the Best Version of You
The program’s three pillars — Respect, Reflect, and Remember — guided the day:
- RESPECT – Listening to others’ lived experiences to build empathy and understanding.
- REFLECT – Considering how those stories apply to students’ own lives and how they might impact others.
- REMEMBER – Carrying those lessons forward, drawing on them during both struggles and triumphs.
Since its debut in 2007, 3Rs Day has consistently offered students a deeper understanding of the world and of themselves. Held every two years, it reinforces resilience, tolerance, and civic responsibility through the lens of lived experience.
Superintendent Darren A. Petersen told Pascack Press, “3Rs Day was a resounding success that showcased our school community at its best. Having over 50 volunteers created an atmosphere that clearly impressed our students — you could see it in their faces as they looked around the full cafetorium with faculty, parents, board members, and Mayor Ghassali all present.”
He said, “What surprised me most was the depth of the student questions. I probably shouldn’t be amazed anymore, but their thoughtful engagement with our speakers continues to exceed expectations. It made me proud of their curiosity.” He said the district will review this year’s lineup to determine which speakers to invite back in 2027, and where fresh voices may be added.
The program included a memorial note on past 3R’s Day speakers whose legacies live on through their powerful messages: Mary Kay Stratis – Montvale resident and longtime supporter of 3R’s Day; and Christophe Lafontant, advocate and past participant
This year’s event was coordinated by Montvale parents Erin Powers and Thea Ignatiou, with help from many volunteers who made the day possible, starting with administrators, faculty, and staff. They singled out Dr. Petersen for his leadership and for continuing the tradition, and Mr. Lauricella for his guidance and tireless work.
They acknowledged Mrs. Risoli, Mrs. Carcich, Mrs. Clark, Mrs. Ferreira, Mrs. Sarin, and Mrs. Walker for helping secure speakers and coordinate logistics. Suzanne Dolan and Peter Valois were recognized for their support, including signage and artwork. They thanked longtime contributors Susan Buonocore, Maureen Sutton, and Judith Thomas, and thanked Samantha D’Auria, the hospitality chair, and Michael D’Auria, Tech & AV chair.
And the chairs thanked the PTO and MEF boards for their support, and the Montvale BOE for providing breakfast for the day’s speakers, staff, and volunteers.